This year, racers in the Dakar Rally are more than halfway through their 8,000-mile journey. They travel via motorcycle, quad bike, car, or truck over extreme terrain in three countries in South America. Competitors and support crews come from more than 50 countries to challenge their mechanical, driving, and orienteering skills. The race kicked off in Lima on Jan. 5 and will wrap up this Sunday with the podium celebrations in Santiago, Chile. -- Lloyd Young (36 photos total)

Mitsubishi driver Francisco Leon, right, of Peru, waves a banner that reads in Spanish "I love you Peru" during the symbolic start of the Peru-Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally in Lima, Peru, on Jan. 5, 2013. The race of over 400 vehicles including cars, bikes, trucks and quads begins Saturday in Lima and finishes in Santiago, Chile on Jan. 20. (Karel Navarro/Associated Press) #

France's David Casteu rides his Yamaha during the Stage 2 of the Dakar Rally in Pisco, Peru, on Jan. 6. The rally will take place in Peru, Argentina and Chile from Jan. 5 to 20. (Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images) #

Argentinian Lucio Alvarez and Ronnie Graue try to escape from a dune as they take part in the sixth stage of the Dakar Rally between Arica and Calama, Chile, on Jan. 10. (Frederic Le Floc'h /Dakar Rally) #

Brazil's Guilherme Spinelli, left, observes his Mitsubishi stuck in a river below, as a helicopter passes with an unidentified motorcycle, during Stage 8 of the Dakar Rally between Salta and Tucuman, Argentina, on Jan. 12. (Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images) #

Thomas Bourgin, of France, competes in the 6th stage of the Dakar Rally from Arica to Calama, Chile. Bourgin died on Jan. 11, 2013, in an accident before the 7th stage of the Dakar Rally between Calama, Chile, and Salta, Argentina. (Victor R. Caivano/Associated Press) #

Dakar Rally competitors hold a minute of silence out of respect for France's Thomas Bourgin in Cachi, Argentina on Jan. 12. Bourgin died on Jan. 11 before the start of Stage 7 when he collided with a police car. (Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images) #

Kees Koolen of the Netherlands rides his Honda quad through a river basin that was flooded rapidly due to heavy rains during the 8th stage of the from Salta to Tucuman, Argentina, on Jan. 12. The 8th stage was canceled due to the flash flood. (Victor R. Caivano/Associated Press) #

Robby Gordon, bottom, and co-driver Kellon Walch, top, of the United States, rest in their Hummer before the start of the 6th stage from Arica to Calama, Chile, on Jan. 10. (Victor R. Caivano/Associated Press) #

South African pilot Giniel de Villiers, right, gets past French driver Ronan Chabot during the ninth stage of the Dakar Rally between San Miguel de Tucuman and Cordoba, Argentina, on Jan. 14. The stage was won by Spanish pilot Nani Roma. ( Felipe Trueba/European Pressphoto Agency) #

An unidentified biker competes during Stage 4 of the Dakar Rally between Nazca and Arequipa, Peru, on Jan. 8. The rally will take place in Peru, Argentina and Chile from Jan. 5 to 20. (Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images) #